Secular Haze

Chapter Three

Ciri spent a few days away from the library after the book throwing incident at the request of the infirmary Siblings. She spent the very first day and evening overnight in the infirmary with a pounding headache and Siblings stopping by frequently to make sure she didn't fall asleep. By the next morning, she was miserable, tired, and grouchy, and wanted nothing more than to throw a book at Terzo's head.

I guess that's payback for running into him, she thought, I should've known he was bad luck from the beginning. I need to stop running into him.

Ciri had just settled in for breakfast that morning when a Brother knocked on the door to her small inpatient room.

"Yes?" she inquired.

"You have a visitor." The Brother stepped to the side and Ciri sighed, immediately recognizing the bright red robes of her favorite church member. His face was obscured by one large bundle of fresh red roses, which overshadowed a small, decaying set in his opposite hand.

"Good morning, Sister. I wanted to bring these to you before morning mass." Copia's head popped up over the flowers, mismatched eyes locked on hers. "I wanted to, ah, see how you were doing. I know you weren't very happy when I left yesterday."

"I just need a night's sleep and I'll be fine," she replied, "You can come in."

"Oh." Copia stepped past the Sibling and entered the room, holding out the dying flowers first. "These are from me. I thought you would appreciate them."

"I do." She smiled, taking them from his hands. She eyed the larger of the bouquets still in his hands. "What are those?"

"Roses, of course," Copia said, and planted them in her arms. "They're from Primo's personal garden, I hear."

"And who are they from?" Ciri pursed her lips as she looked down at them, already sensing who had sent them. Copia's nervous look was the confirmation she needed.

"Terzo wasn't sure you would want to see him yet. He asked me to bring them," he replied. "I am sorry as well, Ciri. Sometimes, we just forget . . . well . . . we forget that others are nearby when we argue."

The tips of his ears turned pink and Ciri studied the flowers, noticing a scent different than floral emitting from them. Upon closer inspection, she found a small note tucked between the petals.

Sister Morolf,

I sincerely, deeply apologize for my actions; I can assure you they will not happen again. I had meant to hit Copia, which is why I threw the book as hard as I did. Again, I apologize.

If you would let me, I would like to make it up to you in any way you wish.

Terzo

Ciri's first instinct was to throw the roses and the note into the nearby trash bin; however, she kept a firm hold on the items. As angry as she wanted to remain and as much as she wanted to hate him for what happened, she knew it had been an accident.

"What'd he say?" Copia asked quietly.

"Just an apology." Ciri folded the note and tucked it back to its original place. "I'll be happy when I can get out of here. I want to go back to the library."

"Yes, yes . . . you are feeling better, of course?"

"Yes." Copia looked around the room, seeming to look for the right words to say. "How do you two know each other? You haven't mentioned you were friends."

"Oh, we grew up together," Copia said with a timid smile, "He took me under his wing, you could say, so we've been good friends for a while. He's like a brother to me."